5 Ways To Live A Healthy Lifestyle

Something I don’t often mention on the blog, but something I am hugely passionate about is living a healthy lifestyle. Quick story: At 23, I went on a weight loss mission and completely changed my lifestyle from boozing, partying and 2am steak and cheese Subways into yoga, vegetarianism, fitness and healthy eating. In the process I lost 4 stone and developed an interest in health and the science behind weight loss.

Fast-forward a few more years, I completed a Health Science degree with The Open University whilst running another blog that shared my fitness journey and weight loss tips in the hopes to inspire and encourage others. Even though my blog now is more washi tape than weight loss, living a healthy lifestyle is still very important to me and something which I continue to work on daily.

Here are five suggestions which I do regularly to live a healthier lifestyle:

Eat More Plant-Based Foods

When I cut out meat from my diet, I found I was naturally eating more plant-based foods. I found there are plenty of tasty alternatives, my favourites include tofu stir fry, sweet potato fries (insert heart eyes emoji), mushroom burgers, butternut squash roast dinner, veggie sushi, and falafel + salad wraps. Eating plant-based has so many benefits from improving skin and digestion, increasing energy, lowing blood pressure & cholesterol and aiding in weight loss.

I was contacted recently by a company called HealthLabs.com who offer online lab testing to check for a whole range of disorders and deficiencies. HealthLabs.com are the first ever service to offer tests tailored towards vegans and those considering the health benefits of a plant-based diet. Being a vegetarian, I feel that eating a plant-based diet has greatly improved my health and I’m often considering whether I should go vegan. If you are the same, there are simple laboratory tests you can do to check for a range of meat and dairy allergies in their Should I Be Vegan? test. To receive 25% off all vegan tests use the code: BEXA25.

Yoga

Yoga, or more specifically Yoga With Adriene on YouTube, has quickly become a way of life for me. I try to do a daily video if time allows, if not, I’ll fit in a short 10 minute meditation practice. Yoga brings so many benefits both physically and mentally: it tones and strengthens the body whilst calms and quiets the mind. In November, I am going on my very first yoga retreat with the lovely Jenny from Jenny in Neverland which I am super excited about. I’m meeting a blogging friend AND we are doing yoga together, how awesome is that! Click to read: 10 Amazing Benefits Of Yoga.

Get Moving

Get moving but make sure it’s doing something you enjoy. Can you put exercise and enjoy in the same sentence? Personally, I think there is an exercise out there for everyone so keep trying new things until you find what works for you. My current favourite activities are walking, swimming and badminton. I’ve also tried gym and fitness classes, but at the moment, as it is hot, I’m preferring being outside or in the pool. Does anyone else change their exercise routine depending on the weather?

Stay Hydrated

You have probably heard this one a thousand times but it does work. If I make an effort to drink more water throughout the day, I have more energy and I feel more alert. On a biology level, water is good for pretty much everything: the skin, digestive system, cardiovascular system, kidneys, joints and cartilage whilst helping minerals and nutrients get to where they need to go. Our systems do not function well without proper hydration, so drinking plenty of water is one of the easiest ways to stay healthy.

Remember To Relax

Last but no means least, taking time out to chill is so important for a healthy lifestyle. Stress can cause all sorts of problems to the body so finding ways to wind down and relax is good for you. My favourite things to do are: having a bath and watching YouTube, reading a book, colouring (why not get yourself a Wellbeing Journal), watching a film, having lunch with my family or just simply having a nap. Click to read: 30 Simple Self-Care Ideas To Improve Your Mental Health. What are you favourite ways to relax?

I hope you have enjoyed my five suggestions to live a healthier lifestyle. What do you do to stay healthy? I’d love to hear from you.

*This is a sponsored post which means I received a product/payment in exchange for an honest review. All views are my own.

82 Comments

I think just starting to move more is the first hurdle even if it’s just a gentle walk the more you do the easier it gets to then try something a little more vigorous. My husband won a yoga session through work which he is gifting to me so I am going to try it out in a couple of weeks I’ll let you know what I think!

Thanks for reading, Rachael! 💖 I definitely agree, anything is better than nothing! I really enjoy going for walks and don’t really think of it as exercise anymore. Yay! Hope you enjoy the yoga, I’d love to hear how you got on 💖☺️ xx

I loved these tips Bexa, I definitely want to start leading a healthier lifestyle when I get back to school as I’m really aware of how badly I’ve treated my body this summer holidays; I’ve been incredibly lazy & have eaten pizza more times than I can count on both hands – literally, three days in a row once, not good (although I can’t resisit it!!). I was veggie a few years ago, and I loved it – I’m not fond of the taste of meat at all, so I didn’t miss it. However, I had to switch back because I barely had any protein in my diet & found all i did was eat pasta and poatatoes, which kinda made me gain weight. I want to go veggie again this winter & need to plan it out a little more, I’d love to see some of your fave veggie recipes! I also would love to start yoga, I think it would be especially calming in the school year. Great post!😊🌈

Thank you so much for the lovely comment Soph and thank you for reading! 💖 I know the feeling, it can be hard to make the healthiest choices on a veggie diet. I eat a lot of tofu, beans and occasionally eat fish too to keep up the protein. That’s a great idea for a future blog post, thank you! I’d definitely recommend yoga, let me know how you get on if you give it a try ☺️💕 xx

A four stone weight loss is AMAZING, wow, that’s awesome! I enjoyed this post very much because I often wonder about going vegetarian but I know I would have a revolt on my hands because both Alan and Flora are confirmed carnivores! I only tried yoga twice but I couldn’t really click with it – I guess I find it too hard to switch off – but I’m really looking forward to hearing how you and Jenny get on in November. I will have to disagree with you about exercise and enjoyment in the same sentence as I am genetically lazy, haha, but I 100% agree with you about staying hydrated. I drink between 5 and 6 pints of water a day and find I get headaches if I fall below that level. Fab tips, Bexa, thank you for sharing! xx

Thanks so much for reading Lisa, and leaving a lovely comment! 💖 He he, I know what you mean, Shaun is very much into eating meat so we compromise by having fish when we eat meals together 😄. We don’t live together so my veggie meals don’t really bother him too much 😂. He he, maybe exercise isn’t for everyone, and I’m the same if I get dehydrated too! Glad you enjoyed the post lovely ☺️💕 xx

I didn’t realise that eating plant based foods has so many benefits 😄. I agree, you can enjoy exercise, you can’t beat swimming 🏊🏻‍♂️ and badminton 🏸. Although I also think the weather has an effect in terms of the exercise I feel like doing ☺️. I have recently started drinking more water and I am starting to feel the benefits 😄. A brilliant post Bexa 😄😍💖😘 xxxx

Hi Bexa, thanks so much for sharing more of your personal history and congratulations on making such a dramatic change in your life style and adopting so many healthy habits. Your post was very inspiring. Between you and Michelle, I’ve finally decided to sign up for a yoga class. Wish me luck!!!
Joan
Kindness-compassion-and-coaching.com

I’ve recently made the switch to vegetarianism, and I honestly think the plant-based life is doing wonders for my health. I can’t 100% tell how much it’s impacted my weight-loss, as I was probably eating about 75% plant-based stuff before, but I think the desire to add veggies to everything is definitely making a difference. I need to get onto yoga though, it’s something I’ve never properly tried before.
-pixieskiesblog.wordpress.com xo

Thanks so much Megan! 💖 That’s awesome! I’m so glad going plant-based is having a positive impact for you too! I’d definitely recommend yoga, let me know if you give it a try, I’d love to know what you think 🧘🏼‍♀️💕☺️ xx

I’m trying to build a 2x week yoga habit, and having been trying to use the Daily Yoga app. However, the routines all spend so much time in downward dog that I have had trouble with my shoulders. Already I’ve seen the doctor for a trapezius strain. 🤕I will check out these yoga videos and see if they are better.

Thanks for reading & commenting Arwen 💖. I’d definitely recommend Yoga With Adriene, you can pick the videos which suit you. The ones I’ve done recently haven’t had that many downward dogs in either. Let me know how you get on ☺️💕 xx

I love these tips! I’ve recently become a vegetarian, and I love exercising, especially running and swimming. One thing I’ve been conscious of lately is how much water I’m drinking, and trying to cut out snacking as I realised just how many biscuits I was eating with my tea! I love Yoga with Adriene, she’s brilliant!
Hels xxhttp://www.thehelsproject.com

4 stone?!?! That’s amazing! As you know, I’m all about a healthy lifestyle and couldn’t agree more with everything you’ve said here. It was such a struggle for me to stay hydrated when I was first trying to drink more water. Apparently I don’t get thirsty all that often? But it’s all so much easier when you make it a part of your routine. My final hurdle is trying to sleep more! x

Thanks so much Sophie! 💖 Yeah, I find that having a bottle of water on my desk reminds me to drink more often otherwise I’d forget 😄. Sleep is something I need to work on too, I’m always going to bed too late 🙈 xx

You’ve given some great tips here Bexa. I can’t believe you lost 4 stone, that’s amazing! I love yoga, it’s a great way to tone up your body as well as clear your mind. Drinking plenty of water is another great tip that a lot of people overlook.

Such a helpful list and the tips you include are great because they are simple yet convenient lifestyle changes. Drinking more water is definitely something I make sure to do every day. I want to try more veggie-based recipes too.

These are great tips! I tend to try and workout, I go workout for a couple of days and stop for a long time, than repeat the process. For me, continuity is my greatest struggle. Eating better is something I am striving for, one day at a time. Even doing something as not eating chocolate for a week is a real achievement for me. Thanks for these tips, they’re really helpful x

These are really great points, I still eat meat but I am actually trying to cut down on the amount that I am eating which has helped a lot! I also really want to get into yoga to help me relax more, I’m never totally relaxed but I think yoga would definitely help me! Will be checking out that YouTube channel, such a great post Bexa xx

This is such a good post! All these tips are easy to fit into a normal day. I’ve just started watching Yoga with Adrienne’s videos and I feel so much better already! A also love the ‘eat more plant-based’ tip as I feel much healthier since I went vegetarian 4 1/2 years ago, and I love seeing other people advocate for people to switch to a plant based diet.

Great post! I’ve been a vegetarian going on 9 years now, and cutting meat out of my diet has made me feel SO much better. I used to feel so heavy, and sluggish when I ate meat. In the beginning I felt like a fish out of water, but over the years I’ve found so many delicious alternatives. And, thankfully more places are now catering to plant based diets which is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing! (:

Some great tips here, Bexa. I’ve been wanting to try out yoga for ages, no idea why I haven’t tried it yet. And staying hydrated is also very important. One of the things I do which I’ve found has helped me is that I don’t drink any caffeine after 6pm – I’ve found that drinking decaf drinks in the evening has really helped me to sleep better. I rarely eat meat, mainly because I don’t like the taste and can’t digest it properly, but I do like fish and I’m trying to eat more plant based foods too x

Thanks so much lovely! The tip about avoiding caffeine after 6pm is such a good one! I try to stick to herbal decaf teas in the evening and it definitely helps with sleep. Glad you enjoyed the post 💖☺️ xx

Great tips here Bexa 🙂 I am currently moving over to a vegetarian diet (can be quite hard living with a family of meat eaters!) and I am starting to feel better for it in myself. There is nothing better than sweet potato fries and a mushroom burger, yummy. Drinking water more regularly is something I have managed to get a handle on, by making sure I always carry my water bottle with me I don’t get tempted by fizzy drinks or other sugary things. It’s an underrated healthy living tip but sure makes a difference.

Thanks so much Jo! 💖 That’s great you are going veggie, I know how hard it is with meat eaters around. That’s a brilliant idea to carry a water bottle around with you, I need to remember to do that more often! Glad you enjoyed the post lovely 💖☺️ xx

It’s great that you’ve turned your life around and adopted a healthy lifestyle! It is a big investment to your body/health in the long run. YES on eating more plant-based foods. By doing this, you’re consuming fewer resources while treating your health right. Yoga is so good for you- I found it super helpful when I was super sore from the weights the day before.

Staying hydrated is important too. It’s not worth getting dizzy because your body is lacking water. Thanks for sharing these tips on staying healthy!

Yayyyy Yoga! Honestly, I am SO excited for the retreat! Yoga With Adriene is definitely a way of life for me now too, I wouldn’t know what to do without her! I go through phases of eating very little meat and right now is NOT one of those phases so I need to keep an eye on what I eat for a while! 🙂 xxx

That is awesome that you’re so passionate about healthy living, Bexa! I’ve been struggling with my weight lately – I’ve tried different “diets” but it’s hit me that at the end of the day, it’s not just what you put into your body. Moving also accounts for weight loss. I do try my best to eat more plant-based foods every now and then though 🙂

These are great tips! Personally, I try to do little & very manageable things throughout the week (so I don’t disappoint myself lol). I drink a lot of water, I walk my dog every day after work, I don’t eat after 8 p.m., I always have some veggies with my dinner…they’re little things that do make a difference when combined!

WOW! Well done you, I had no idea you had lost 4 stone, that is such an amazing achievement! I absolutely adore sweet potato fries but I do struggle with sticking to a healthy diet as I’m super fussy with food so they’re probably the only thing out of your whole list that I’d like. I completely agree about finding something that you enjoy with exercise, if you don’t like doing it then you are less likely to stick to it! For me it’s running but because of the heatwave I haven’t been able to get out and run at all so I’m feeling pretty fat lately haha! I’d love to try and do yoga at some point as I’ve never tried it before!

loved this post! and i LOVE yoga with adriene, I started doing yoga a few months ago to help with my depression and anxiety and it’s been a life changer. I still need to get better at keep a regular schedule so that i can keep progressing but I have totally noticed a difference from adding her practices into my life. Staying hydrated is so important, I have a 40 ounce Hydroflask water bottle and I try to drink at least two of them a day. it’s amazing how much simple water can help you! thank you for sharing all these tips!

Thank you so much Mich! 💖 That’s awesome you do Yoga With Adriene too! It’s so great and can really help with mental health. Definitely, water is such a simple but effective way to stay healthy. Glad you enjoyed the post lovely 💕☺️ xx

I really need to work on implementing permanent changes to a healthier lifestyle. I tend to go through cycles where I’ll get serious about it for a month, then regress back into old habits, and then get back into, etc. Of course with my big move to a new country everything has been completely reset but I’m hoping to change that soon.

I think the hardest thing right now for me is food. I am unemployed and living with my husband’s family so I feel like I have barely any say over what I eat. It’s just whatever they make. It isn’t horrible, but boy do I miss the freedom of making my own shopping lists and cooking my own food. If their kitchen wasn’t such a mess and there were room in the fridge for other food, I’d do it, but both of those are lost causes right now.

The exercise thing is the thing that bums me out the most. I started running back in February and completed C25K and was on my way to the 10k, but somehow over the past month or two really messed up my knees and now can’t seem to handle jogging for more than a minute without pain. (I do have an appointment to talk to my GP about it next month, so we’ll see what comes from that.) It really sucks to be making so much progress to suddenly being unable to do anything at all. I miss it. 🙁 I haven’t completely given up on exercising though. I have been playing softball for the past month or two which has been a lot of fun (I find it’s a lot easier for me to exercise and enjoy myself when doing it with others) and I hope to start up Yoga with Adriene again soon. I’ve only ever managed to make it a habit once when I completed her 30 day Yoga Camp, but would really like to make it a permanent part of my day in the future. I don’t think my body has ever felt better than when doing yoga!

Anyways lovely post <3 And congrats on all the amazing work you've done to take care of yourself!

Thank you so much for your lovely comment Asti! 💖 It must be difficult living with your husbands family and not having much control over what you eat. Aww that’s a shame about the running but resting and recovering is most important. Good luck with the GP appointment! ☺️ Glad you are still enjoying softball. Yoga is such a great form of exercise, I’ve also done Adriene’s 30 Day Yoga Camp and really enjoyed it. Thank you again for your sweet & thoughtful comment! ☺️💕 xx

This is such a great post! I am always trying to live a healthy lifestyle but it is so hard sometimes. I am following slimming world although sometimes it’s difficult, I am enjoying the journey. I want to feel happier in myself. I have been thinking about becoming a vegetarian as I am finding I am eating less meat. That’s an amazing achievement. You definitely should do a post about your weight loss (if you feel comfortable). I need some tips on yoga as it has been suggested for my times of anxiousness. Great post lovely! I am definitely going to take note of your tips! Thank you for sharing babe 💗🌷xxx

Thank you so much for your lovely comment Lauren! 💖 That’s great you are following Slimming World, I remember your tweets about it and you have done amazingly well so far! Aww yes, I’d love to write a post on my weight loss someday, thank you for the encouragement 😍. I’d definitely recommend Yoga With Adriene, it’s so good for stress & anxiety. Glad you enjoyed the post lovely 💕☺️ xx

It’s 1130pm but I definitely wouldn’t turn down a tofu stir fry if it was up for offer! I used to eat tofu loads when I was younger but stopped for some reason! Maybe I need to pop it on my shopping list for this week.

I agree with all these points, especially eating more plant based foods. I’m not very good at yoga but I enjoy running and lifting – it’s so important to find an exercise you enjoy so you’re more likely to stick with it. Staying hydrated and making time for relaxation are crucial to a healthy body and mind, too.